Australia and diabetes release

[Cacia]

I also went down that road with my doctors office not long ago and was told the same thing. I then told them no test or blood samples till I was told what they were for. I feel that they sometimes take stupidity pills when they write the laws.

Charles

thank god...I was afraid no one would believe me. It is crazy out there. It does not inspire the cinfidence I would need to give out information willy nilly.


Oh yea, Andynz, I think several of us already conceded that we would go somewhere else...no problem. Lots of great places to dive.

I doubt PNG or Indonesia will give me much grief.

 

[AndyNZ]

Oh yea, Andynz, I think several of us already conceded that we would go somewhere else...no problem. Lots of great places to dive.

I doubt PNG or Indonesia will give me much grief.

Probably not! Though I expect the increase in litigation will eventually even reach the most remote places.....

Even in Aus, there's some awesome diving outside of QLD. Each state has it's own laws, and QLD is definitely the most draconian of the lot.

 

[ItsBruce]

Ronald Regan used to ask: "Who is going to protect us from our protectors?" That really seems to apply here.

 

[CaptSaaz]

Wow,
A week went by with out a response, now several weeks later, 5 pages long. Good to see a mature discussion got started. The diabetic is my SO. She is not adverse to letting the dive op know that she is diabetic. Reasoning being that if something happens to her, they will know about a pre-existing condition.

As far as diving in Australia goes, we don't want to travel all that way and have her be told no. She has been diving for 5 years... about 300 dives under her belt. Her diabetes is well controlled. She knows to up her blod sugar levels before hitting the water and carries glucose (we call it Loser Juice) with her on dives just in case. Her local doctor has cleared her and so far, she hasn't had a problem. Again, should we travel to Australia and be told no.

Looking on the South Pacific Underwater Medical (SPUM) website... well.. it is a bit draconian. One of their first statements is that diabetic are obese, out of shape and should not dive. Excuse me??? We spend 3-4 days a week in the gym. Aerobics, some weight training and 20+ laps in the pool. We may not be young and spry but out of shape? Absolutely pathetic that they make a statement like that. Her diabetes is genetic not from over eating/obesity. This turns me off from researching Asustralia as a possible dive destination.
</rant>

 

[serambin]

Unfortunately our dive was cancelled on the weekend due to a shooting on the only access road to the dive site. I have sent an email to our instructors to get an answer for you.
Cheers
Tae

Hey, why worry about diabetes, she could be shot before she gets there. The only risk to life is death.

Stan

 

[Cacia]

Looking on the South Pacific Underwater Medical (SPUM) website... well.. it is a bit draconian. One of their first statements is that diabetic are obese, out of shape and should not dive.

Maybe you should write them. Apply a little "feedback".

 

[kennedy]

Hello - I am the diabetic in question here. I have written to several of the dive ops/boats requesting more information on the issue - I've yet to get a reply. I ALWAYS tell the dive op and usually every one on the boat that I am an insulin dep diabetic - I will continue to do so. I am concerned that if I have to be seen by a doc over there - who will evalute me with what I chose to write down and examine me for 15 mins - and determine if I am "fit" to dive - after I travel that far - It could get ugly if he/she decides I am not "fit". Thank you for your responses and once I find out any thing - I'll be sure to post it!

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi CaptSaaz,

You'll notice that the SPUMS guidelines do not appear in my article, while those of YScuba, British Sub-Aqua Club & DAN do.

I think it would be entirely appropriate if you wrote to SPUMS and expressed your sentiments. The administrator can be reached at stevegoble@bigpond.com.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo

 

[kennedy]

Thanks doc - I'll send them an email!!

I have found a live a board that will let me dive on their boat with my own docs release - what I also found is that 3 of the docs that DAN suggested I go to for a medical dive release - don't do them any longer - and were suprised by my calls - I advised them to contact DAN as they were still on their lists!

 

[DocVikingo]

Hey Kennedy,

That is most excellent news and, IMHO, as it should be. You're going to have such a good time.

RE: DAN. I always get a chuckle when responders on the Diving Medicine forum chime in and tell the inquirer to "call DAN for referral to a diving medicine specialist in your neighborhood." Truth is their referral list is on balance quite modest and very thin in most locations outside of a major metropolitan area. This is even more the case when it comes to particular medical specialties. And, as you have pointed out, their list appears to be in need of updating. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big DAN fan, but I do think this is an area of weakness.

Keep us posted.

BTW, who are you diving with and on which itinerary? In case you are interested, I just did a feature trip report on my Nimrod Explorer itinerary to Raine Island for the Jun
'06 issue of Undercurrent http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/issues2006.shtml

Be well,

DocVikingo